Published at Monday, April 09th, 2018 - 12:41:23 PM. Hockey Gear and Equipment. By Cecilia Erica.

WORK ETHIC AND FITNESS You need to be the hardest worker and most fit player on your team. New York Rangers goalie Mike Richter won the fitness award every year. Hall of Famer Ed Belfour used to run triathlons. St. Louis′ Brian Elliott is the hardest-working goalie I′ve ever coached. Your teammates look to you as their rock. Never let them have any doubts. By being fit and working hard you let them know you have their back.

Change it up. Over the course of a long season it's not unusual for players to begin to tune out a coach. Try turning a practice over to one of your assistant coaches or perhaps bring in a guest coach to run a practice.

Sometimes a player makes the mistake of carrying the puck in front of him so the goalie knows what he′s going to do because he can′t shoot the puck from that position. As you get close to the net bring the puck to your side so you can either take the quick shot or make a move.